Down Memory Lane - Harry Buchanan

Harry Buchanan broke into senior lacrosse with the Vancouver Burrards in 1944 at the tender age of 18. Twelve years later, even though he had surpassed the 70-point mark for the fifth time in his career, Harry hung up his lacrosse stick in retirement.

But before bowing out of his remarkable playing career in 1955, the man known as "Buck" had amassed 831 points on 424 goals and 407 assists in 397 games. Included in his accomplishments were 54 career hattricks.

Lacrosse was Harry's preference but certainly not his only sport. As an outstanding soccer player, he was a member of the B.C. juvenile champions in the 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st divisions, the B.C. Junior champ and two Imperial Cup titles. Buck also played a season in the senior fastball league and participated in hockey and basketball.

All this compacted in a body that never topped 140 pounds.

Somehow Harry found time to coach the 1948 Minto Cup champions and conduct minor lacrosse clinics, particularly in the Williams Lake district.

Two teammates of Harry in the Burrards' livery were younger brothers Elmer and Russ.

Five of the 12 boxla seasons saw Harry go to the Mann Cup finals -1945, 1949, 1951 and 1952 with Burrards and 1944 as a pickup player with Salmonbellies. Harry was awarded the Maitland Trophy in 1949, the same year he shared the scoring title with Jim Anderson and Whitey Severson.

Perhaps there is no greater honour for an athlete than to earn the respect of your peers. When former teammate and coach John Cavallin was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame, he humbly commented that he could think of at least a dozen others who should have been there before him; but, the only name he specifically mentioned was Harry Buchanan.